Farmworkers And Laborers, Crop

Job description

Watermelon Planting: Workers will grab a tray of watermelon plants; working down the rows worker will make a hole on the ground, insert the watermelon plant in the hole and cover the hole with dirt. To harvest watermelon by hand, the worker will walk down the watermelon field rows where the watermelon will be harvested. The worker will first cut the vine off the watermelon with a small knife and turn the watermelon over. The worker will bend over harvesting the ripe watermelon which can vary in weight from 20 to 60 lbs from the ground and tossing the watermelon to the worker next to him and this worker will toss the watermelon to the next worker and so on, until the watermelon is then tossed to the person inside the bus who will place the watermelon on the floor. Packing: When the bus is full, it will be taken to the packing house where the workers will unload the watermelon and put it in a conveyer belt that will transport the watermelon into the packing house where it will be separated by size, labeled and packed. Cucumber Plantation: Workers will select large cucumber plant from the beds; they will cut the plant and place into a basket. Once the basket is full and tight the process will be done again. Workers will then plant cucumber by machine and by hand. When planting by machine the worker will repeatedly set a plant on the butterfly device that holds the plant. The plant end must stick out of the butterfly device at least 2-3 inches in order to be planted correctly. When done by hand the worker will walk down the field make a 3 inch hole in the ground, place the plant in the hole and cover the hole firmly. Cucumber Harvesting: The worker will pick the cucumber up from the ground, placing them in a five gallon bucket, once the bucket is full, the worker will take the bucket to the truck and dump the cucumber in the back of the truck. Sweet Potatoes Plantation: Workers will select large sweet potato plant from the beds; they will cut the plant and place into a basket. Once the basket is full and tight the process will be done again. The worker must be able to complete three baskets every hour. Workers will then plant sweet potato by machine and by hand. When planting by machine the worker will repeatedly set a plant on the butterfly device that holds the plant. The plant end must stick out of the butterfly device at least 2-3 inches in order to be planted correctly. When done by hand the worker will walk down the field make a 3 inch hole in the ground, place the plant in the hole, and cover the hole firmly, and space each hole about 10 inches apart repeatedly throughout the daily shift. Sweet Potato Harvesting: The worker will pick the sweet potatoes from the ground and place them in a 5/8 BU bucket, once the bucket is full, the worker will take the bucket to the truck and dump the sweet potatoes in the back of the truck, taking the bucket back to the picking area and fill up the bucket again. General Maintenance: Workers on physical work restrictions or when harvesting work is not available may be required to perform miscellaneous clean-up work on work site property, on structures utilized in the work site operation, and on housing for harvesting workers. Such clean-up activities include the sprouting, pruning, and painting of trees; debris, weed, and vine removal; irrigation repair; housing and structure cleaning and repair.

Note: The packing house is located inside the Farm and more than 50% of the product processed is produced by the Fixed Site Employer

Special Requirements

This type of work, involves working conditions that require tremendous stamina, a high level of physical activity in cold or extremely hot conditions in direct sunlight and in adverse weather such as rain. The work requires a high level of physical conditioning. Due to the type of work involved, there is a Probationary Period of five (5) days beginning with the first day of employment, to show possession of the requisite physical strength and endurance to perform this type of work